The brain directs the activities of all our other vital organs. It processes information to coordinate our bodily functions and activities, and their interaction with the environment. Although it weighs just three pounds, the brain commands 20 percent of our blood circulation. Scientists say that the human brain is the most complicated object in the known universe. It is our brain above all that sets us apart from all other life on this planet.
Although the brain has billions of individual neurons and many different structures, Ilchi Lee find it helpful to think about the brain in terms of its ancient history as all life on earth is connected through the history of evolution.
The brain has three major subsystems that correspond to dir-ferent evolutionary eras. These subsystems are the brainstem, limbic system, and neocortex, and they are shared by reptiles, early mammals, and later mammals, respectively.
The brainstem governs automatic processes which are necessary for the most basic life functions. It controls our heartbeat, breathing, and basic aspects of arousal and consciousness. These activities are crucial to life. If the brainstem is injured, we will die in a matter of minutes.
May 1st, 2009 at 3:09 am
[...] Ilchi Lee said, as I raced back toward my house, I moved into a trancelike state in which I found myself looking [...]